Congratulations to Mrs. Nikki Magnetico & Mr. Kevin Simmons

4/18/2019

Brittany Theimer

Nikki Magnetico has been a dedicated and energetic teacher for almost 20 years in Palm Beach County. Through hands-on experiences, she is able to engage students in life learning lessons that will help shape their future. She has been at The Weiss School teaching gifted students for 7 years and has loved every minute. Nikki is gifted endorsed and has her Master’s Degree from Nova Southeastern University in Elementary Education. In 2016 she was presented with the Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year Award and in 2017 was a Dwyer Finalist for the Elementary Education category. She has two published works in a STEAM Magazine focusing on gifted education. Nikki works with middle school students as the student council advisor and has also been working as the Director of Community Outreach here at The Weiss School. She has incorporated numerous outreach projects and events throughout the school that has touched the lives of people right here in our community as well as people around the world. Her students are always working on projects that make learning come to life and her commitment to her class is undeniable.

Kevin L. Simmons is principal investigator for the WeissSat-1, the first middle school CubeSat launched into space in 2018 through NASA's CubeSat Launch. Simmons is also the PI for a second NASA CubeSat and leads the Wolverine CubeSat Development team. He teaches Physics, Chemistry and Aerospace, and trained as a biochemist, with industry, military, and academia experience. He founded and leads BLUECUBE Aerospace, a small aerospace education company. Prior to The Weiss School he spent six years as a fellow and contractor in the Engineering Directorate at the National Science Foundation. He is the current American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Palm Beach section Public Policy chair, and serves on the Business Development Board Engineering Task Force and the Palm Beach County STEM Education Council. Simmons is a 2009-2011 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow and is the recipient of the AIAA Foundation Educator Achievement Award, The NCASE Crown Circle Award for Aerospace Education, and the Alan Shepard Technology in Education award.

The Weiss School

The Weiss School is a co-ed private school that serves gifted students in PreK-3 through 8th grade in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. A Weiss School education prepares students to think analytically and creatively, act socially responsible, live vigorously, and create imaginatively in a warm and supportive educational environment.